March 20, 2004

Rocket Launch Invitation

Mookie and I will be headed out in a while for today's launch. It's a two-day event this month, held in Culpeper, Virginia. According to the local weather, today is going to be the nicer half of the weekend.

Air Munuviana is scheduled to fly today on my new I90 hybrid motor. Woot!

Directions here. The open invitation still stands, no charge for spectators, and if you do make it out stop by and say hi. Just look for a red Mazda pickup.

Posted by: Ted at 07:35 AM | Comments (32) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Why I Love the Internet - Reason # 8,923

Topher's Breakfast Cereal Character Guide.

Posted by: Ted at 07:08 AM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 19, 2004

This 'n' that

Up top, another go-round for the most popular Rocket Jones banner, judging from the number of positive responses.

Stage right, a new tagline for the archive. If you've got one you like, leave it in the comments and we'll add it.

I haven't forgotten the next series of Build It posts, on Box Hockey. Life got busy and I haven't had a chance to get going on it. Very soon, I promise.

Likewise on the special pages I talked about last week. That's become my number 1 priority blog-wise, because it's the most important personally. But it's just so darned hard to do. You'll understand why when you see it.

Posted by: Ted at 10:22 PM | Comments (32) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Long Night

We got home last night after 1am, thanks to a 7 hour stretch at the ER. Everyone's home, everyone's fine. Everyone's still asleep, except for yours truly, who has to hit the pharmacy when it opens in about 45 minutes.

It's going to be a long zombie-like day. Maybe I can get a nap this afternoon.

Beal. It's what's for dinner.

Update: I've slept for a few hours, and Mookie and I are still going to a rocket launch tomorrow. Thanks for all the kind words and well-wishes.

Short version: Wife Liz has had a headache on the left side of her head since Saturday last, and it got bad enough yesterday to see the doctor (she doesn't suffer from migraines). Doc found a suspicious mass at the back of Liz's head and sent her to the ER for a CT scan.

Wait. Wait. Wait. See doctor, get CT scan. Wait. Liz has sinus infection on left side (all 4 - my dear overachiever), and the mass is a bundle of muscle that's spasming from the ensuing headache pain. IV with painkillers, then with antibiotic, and handful of prescription slips to take home. And that's the key, she got to go home. Most of the time a trip to the ER for her means automatic admission.

She's doing ok, not great, but ok. The doctor said it'll be a few days before she starts to feel better. With the Fibromyalgia that Liz has, the pain is not an uncommon thing, just the cause is different this time. I've said it before, if it's bad enough that she's complaining about pain, I know it's bad enough that I'd be on my knees begging to die.

Once again, thanks my friends, for your good thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: Ted at 08:15 AM | Comments (42) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 What the everlovin' H*LL happened?! And who do I pray for?!

Rest up, 'yall--and hang in there!

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at March 19, 2004 09:43 AM (aRpMC)

2 Nice to hear that everyone's fine but...

Mmm. Nice bit of roast beal. Beal and onions...

Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 19, 2004 10:23 AM (+S1Ft)

3 Hey, the Caps game wasn't *that* bad

I'm glad all is well. Having recently spent massive time in the emergency room myself, I know how scary and frustrating that can be.

Posted by: Victor at March 19, 2004 10:51 AM (L3qPK)

4 From my emergency room experiences it would be 6 hour 45 minutes of waiting and 15 minutes of medical attention.

I'm glad to hear that all is well. Hope you get that nap.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 19, 2004 02:35 PM (CSxVi)

5 What?!?! I want a full account! Hang in there, my friend!

Posted by: Dawn at March 19, 2004 04:10 PM (L6pam)

6 Yes, as an officially sanctioned busybody, I need details!

Seriously, do get well soon, or be well, or be more well. And if they gave you pain pills, be very well indeed.

Posted by: Scott at March 19, 2004 04:49 PM (zL4bg)

7 I hope she gets better soon! Sinus infections are the pits.

Posted by: Tink at March 19, 2004 08:28 PM (l4WXq)

8 Oh bless her heart, I didn't know she had fibromyalgia...I'll definitely keep her in my prayers, both for her current headache nastiness AND her continued strength in dealing with her muscle pains.

In a sense, I'm a kindred spirit with you, Ted. Only it's my mother, and she has malignant brain tumors. It's amazing, the amount of pain she shrugs off. She walks around everyday, going on with her life, with a continual migraine headache that would leave most people insensate and unable to function.

I could only hope to have a tenth of the strength that good women like my mother and your wife have.

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at March 20, 2004 10:21 AM (Q+yXx)

9 I hope your wife is feeling better these days.

Posted by: Cindy at March 24, 2004 08:28 AM (BAGuk)

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Oscar Worthy Performance

Scandalous that this one was ignored.

Thanks to the Llama Butchers, via Farm Accident Digest, for pointing this one out.

Posted by: Ted at 07:58 AM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 18, 2004

Elvis Has Left the Building

That's what my computer announces loudly when I shut down at the end of the day. There's no sneaking out early for me.

What kind of custom sound-bites do you have loaded on your machine?

Posted by: Ted at 02:09 PM | Comments (47) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Voyager computer voice.

Upon starting up: "Command codes verified."

Upon shutting down: "Standing by."

I also use one of the incoming comm alerts for email notification.

Yup. Me geek.

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at March 18, 2004 04:53 PM (XQmyz)

2 Haven't done it yet, but i've been meaning to bring in a mic and record a shut down message on our "communal" lab computer that says something stupid like, "Think you're gonna shut me down you stupid A** Hole? Well Fu** you!"

Yah, too much time on my hands.

Posted by: cbeck at March 18, 2004 05:32 PM (N2x5u)

3 My incoming email sound on my laptop is the Lumbourgh "Mmmm... yeah..." from Office Space and my appointment alert is "Did you bring me a monkey?" by Number 4 from Multiplicity.

Posted by: Phelps at March 18, 2004 06:47 PM (HlHi7)

4 Don't have anything programmed, but, if I could I would have it chime what I hope will be my dying words (if I can remember to say them): "That's it. I'm outta here..."

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 18, 2004 09:21 PM (4vfwI)

5 The boys at Gannett (y'know, the ones who print USA Today, the NY Times and my crappy paper) have a great "You've got SPAM!" message when they get e-mail. I had a "What the FUCK?" as my error message at home, but I deleted it. And, of course, I used to have a Homer Simpson's "D'OH!" as an error message for awhile. Now I just have the Chew Toy sound as my alert message. Seemed more appropriate!

Posted by: Dawn at March 18, 2004 09:22 PM (Q0xHi)

6 When I boot up, Cartman says "Democrats piss me off!" and when I shut down, Ike (Stan's little brother) says "Don't kick the baby."

Posted by: Susie at March 18, 2004 10:45 PM (ni0vr)

7 I mean Kyle's little brother. Dang! I must been getting senile...

Posted by: Susie at March 18, 2004 10:47 PM (ni0vr)

8 Startup the classic Darth Vader "What is thy bidding my master?"

Shutdown Verbal Kent from the ususal suspects "And like that... he's gone."

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 18, 2004 11:06 PM (CSxVi)

9 Oh yah and two different email alerts.

The main account: From Monty Python and the Holy Grail "(arrow soud) Message for you sir."

Blog account Computer generated voice saying "Hold the Mayo."


I know it shows a pathetic lack of imagination and creativity but sometimes the classics are classics for a reason - they just work.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 18, 2004 11:13 PM (CSxVi)

10 Given that I receive several hundred emails a day, I have turned off the audible alert.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 19, 2004 01:23 AM (kOqZ6)

11 A year ago I installed an email alert on my supervisor's machine. She's never been able to get rid of it, so every time she gets email, Gus (Robert Duvall) from Lonesome Dove says "You do more work than you have to, which means that I have to do less." (or something to that effect)

Posted by: Ted at March 19, 2004 07:07 AM (ZjSa7)

12 When my computer starts it plays the sound bite from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, when Riff Raff says :"Master, Master, we have a visitor..."
And when I shut it down it plays one from the Silence of the Lambs where Dr. Lector says at the end "I do wish we could chat longer but...I'm having an old friend for dinner..."
I just recently changed my mail announcement to " I have a message for you" from Hal (from 2001). I used to have Warf from The Next Generation tell me "Captain, incoming message."
I change them all the time.

Posted by: Blogeline at March 19, 2004 11:37 AM (O27QY)

13 I got a ton of them which my wife usually complains about. I have some 2001 clips. On win start I get the holodeck "program loaded enter when ready".
I keep changing the mail message, right now I am using a clip form Robin hood men in tights "message for you"/ I used to have a sexy female voice saying "Master I have message for you" but I got tired of it.
I also have some clips from babylon5 and the anime series Trigun for various events. I wouldn't mind adding the Elvis clip to my collection.

Posted by: Starhawk at March 20, 2004 08:51 AM (Yq1pI)

14 Hello:

I used to have the sound bite "Elvis has left the building" on my machine at shut down but I've lost the sound bite. Do you know where I can download this clip again. I appreciate your help!

Joe

Posted by: Joe at August 03, 2005 06:49 PM (M7kiy)

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Movie Review - The Beast (198

Not the 50's horror feature of the same name, this movie is sometimes found under the title "The Beast of War".

The Beast of the title is a tank. A Soviet main battle tank involved in the invasion of Afghanistan, which becomes separated from the rest of its unit. The story involves the crew of the tank and their efforts to rejoin their comrades despite being surrounded by hostile mujadeen and forbidding country. It's a war story, but the focus is on the people involved on both sides, both Soviet tank crew and Afghan's fighting the invaders.

There are rumors that you can occasionally find this one in the $5.00 bargain bin at WalMart. I haven't seen it there, but I'm going to look more carefully from now on.

Another underappreciated movie, this one is thumbs up, comrades!

Posted by: Ted at 08:10 AM | Comments (39) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

We now return you to the regularly scheduled crap

The intervention over at Bloviating Inanities is over. For a brief time yesterday afternoon, BI sucked a little less than usual. You can tell things are back to normal, because Bill is back to being a whiny little bitch.

I'd like to thank the rest of the swarm:

Jennifer
Susie
Michele (my apologies for misspelling your name before)
Ron, the blogless
Paul
Wind Rider
SilverBlue
Keith, the photoshop wizard

Special thanks to the organizer of the event.

Nothing says "Love" like being TP'd, even online.

Posted by: Ted at 07:15 AM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Chocolate Goes To War

The Hershey Ration D Bar.

Posted by: Ted at 05:36 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

More teacher heroes and students learning

From Sophont (who points out some of the coolest stuff):

"Think of a diamond in the sky," says Robert Rochte.

Rochte, director of technology at the Grosse Pointe Academy, and his eager third-grade students hope to see a tetroon within the next month, depending on the sun and wind conditions, when they launch the fifth in a series of experimental balloons from Grosse Pointe Farms in an effort to learn about weather, navigation and electronics.

They're also having fun.

Go read the whole thing, it's really impressive.

Posted by: Ted at 05:10 AM | Comments (39) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 17, 2004

How thoughtful

Bill sent me this thank you e-card, which just goes to prove that he's more than a little creepy a considerate guy.

His attached message was “Oho!"

No Bill, thank you!

Posted by: Ted at 05:00 PM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Freakers Ball

Well there's gonna be a freakers ball

Tonight at the freakers hall

And you know, you're invited one and all

Come on babies grease your lips
Grab your hats and swing your hips
Don't forget to bring your whips
We're going to the freakers ball

Blow your whistle and bang your gong
Roll up something to take along
It feels so good it must be wrong
We're freakin at the freakers ball

Where all the fags and the dykes they're boogyin' together
The leather freaks are dressed in all kinds of leather
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming "Please hit me, and I'll hit you"

The FBI are dancing with the junkies
All the straights, are swinging with the fogies
Across the floor and up the wall
We're freakin at the freakers ball
Y'all, we're freakin at the freakers ball

Everybody's kissing each other
Brother with sister, son with mother
Smear my body up with butter
Take me to the freakers ball

Pass that roach please and pour the wine
I'll kiss yours if you'll kiss mine
I'm gonna boogie till i go blind
We're freakin at the freakers ball

White ones, black ones, yellow ones, red ones
Necrophiliacs looking for dead ones
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming "Please hit me, and I'll hit you"

Everybody falling in batches
Pyromaniacs striking matches
I'm gonna itch me where it scratches
Freakin' at the freakers ball.

-- Dr. Hook

The inmates have taken over Bloviating Inanities!

Posted by: Ted at 04:15 PM | Comments (44) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Dr. Hook? I thought that was She Siverstein!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 18, 2004 12:41 AM (0ncEe)

2 l
l
l


--just makin' sure it still worked...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 18, 2004 12:43 AM (0ncEe)

3 If Shel Silverstein wrote that - and it's certainly his style - it was Dr. Hook that recorded it. Funny song. Hard to believe it came from the same group that gave us Sylvia's Mother. *retch*

Posted by: Ted at March 18, 2004 05:25 AM (ZjSa7)

4 Yeah, the lyrics definitely have a The Cover Of The Rolling Stone flow to them.

And I'd forgotten all about Sylvia's Mother - I deleted that one from my .m3u of that album a loooooong time ago.

Posted by: Chris at March 18, 2004 01:35 PM (nGwPW)

5 Well, I didn't know that Dr.Hook had
covered "Freakers' Ball", but; looking at the album right in front of me ("Freakin' At The Frteakers' Ball" by Shel Silverstein), UI', omly reminded that Dr. Hook had a great song called "Couple More Years". It was the B-side of "Love You A Little Bit More."

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 18, 2004 09:39 PM (4vfwI)

6 UI', omly = I'm only

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 18, 2004 09:43 PM (4vfwI)

7 I should've known that Spork. Mookie is a huge Shel Silverstein fan. I got to see Dr. Hook in concert once, and they were better than a lot of folks gave them credit for. They rocked hard.

Posted by: Ted at March 19, 2004 06:59 AM (ZjSa7)

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It’s Goofy Game Time!

Everyone knows about Where’s Waldo, those busy little cartoons where you’re supposed to find that red & white striped twerp in a crowd of people. Oho, what fun!

Let’s play the Bloviating Inanities special edition version: Where’s Bill? (in the extended entry – nsfw)

Hint: he’s not staff.

Posted by: Ted at 03:30 PM | Comments (32) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Goofy Game Time again!

Oho, it’s another classic, a word search! Full of fun nicknames and pet names people have had for Bill over the years. In case you don’t know the game, look forwards, backwards, up and down and diagonally for the words hidden in the grid below.

Posted by: Ted at 03:22 PM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Sir William Pickering 1910 - 2004

Dr Pickering was a Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and an early pioneer with the US Space Program. He became known as "Mr JPL".

Silent Running has an excellent post about him, well worth the read.

Posted by: Ted at 12:00 PM | Comments (35) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Breakfast Cereal is EVIL

First they tempt the young with the minor demons FrankenBerry, Count Chocula and Boo Berry, who are truly abominations unto His eye.

Once in the unholy grip of the sugar coma, they roll out the big guns (in the extended entry).

Posted by: Ted at 08:53 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Paper Models

Here are a whole heap o' places where you can find detailed plans for models constructed of paper. Historical spacecraft and satellites, aircraft and ships, robots and more.

NASA's site with many plans for satellites and space exploration related equipment. Rated easy to challenging.

NASA's Mars pages have a nifty model of the Pathfinder here, and a different set of plans for the Pathfinder here. Each focus on different educational goals.

This incredible site has everything from precision paper airplanes to models for several versions of the Delta, communications satellites, UFO saucers and many more.

Submarine.

Beaucoup models here of everything under the sun. Sydney Opera House or Wrigley Field anyone?

Robots, Japanese style.

There were plenty of rocket models in the links above, but how about a real flyable model rocket kit made completely out of paper? FlisKits is producing some of the most innovative designs out there, and one of them is their Midnight Express. Yes, it really flies! Note that the link leads to their product page, scroll down a little bit and click where it says "Free Download".

Texas-based Art Applewhite offers some unique saucer designs, including this page of free stuff to build and fly.

And of course, you just knew some clever genius came up with software to turn your CAD file into a paper-model plan.

Thanks to BoingBoing, Texas Best Grok, EGB, and the Rec.Models.Rockets newsgroup for these pointers.

Posted by: Ted at 05:48 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Yet Another 100 List

The difference being that this one isn't work safe. Not even close.

The 100 Worst Porn Movie Titles.

Posted by: Ted at 05:05 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

March 16, 2004

Iraq Blogger KIA

Bob Zangas' Journey In Iraq. Bob Zangas was killed in an ambush wednesday last. He was on his second tour in Iraq, first as a Marine, then as a civilian working for the Coalition Provisional Authority. His posts provided an inside look at what some are doing as they help rebuild Iraq.

Thanks to A.E. Brain for the pointer. His words are better than mine.

Posted by: Ted at 10:16 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Short and sweet

Fifty Word Fiction.

This is an interesting idea, and I love some of the different approaches taken. Give it a try. Either leave it there, leave one in the comments here, or put it on your site and link back to this.

Look for mine soon. You, in the back, knock it off!

Posted by: Ted at 08:16 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

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